Dry eye assessment cost
Vision Express includes a dry eye assessment in its £30 Advanced Eye Test, and Boots includes its Dry Eye Evaluation in the Essential Eye Test from £29.95. Specialist clinics set their own fees. It is not generally NHS-funded as a routine service. Specialist treatments (IPL, LipiFlow) cost considerably more.
What a structured dry eye assessment includes
Validated symptom questionnaire
Usually Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) or DEQ-5. A 5 to 12 question scored questionnaire that quantifies symptom severity over the last week. Anchors clinical findings to the patient's actual experience.
Tear meniscus height
The optometrist examines the strip of tear film along the lower eyelid edge using a slit lamp. A height below 0.2 mm is suggestive of aqueous-deficient dry eye.
Tear film break-up time (TBUT)
A small amount of fluorescein dye is instilled. The optometrist measures how long the tear film stays intact after a blink. Less than 10 seconds is abnormal; less than 5 seconds indicates significant tear film instability.
Ocular surface staining
Fluorescein, lissamine green, or rose bengal staining reveals corneal and conjunctival damage from chronic dryness. Graded against standardised scales (Oxford, NEI).
Schirmer test
A small strip of filter paper is placed under the lower eyelid for 5 minutes to measure tear production. Less than 10 mm of wetting is reduced; less than 5 mm is severely reduced.
Meibomian gland assessment
The optometrist expresses the meibomian glands at the eyelid margin and observes the quality of the secreted oil. Cloudy, granular, or absent secretions indicate meibomian gland dysfunction (the most common cause of dry eye).
Meibography (selective)
Infrared imaging of the meibomian glands through the everted eyelid. Shows gland dropout or atrophy. Not all clinics have a meibographer; usually at the more comprehensive end of the assessment.
UK dry eye assessment pricing
| Provider | Cost | What is included |
|---|---|---|
| Specsavers | Not published | Ask your store whether it offers the assessment and what it charges |
| Vision Express | Included in £30 | Part of its Advanced Eye Test, with an OCT 3D scan and a UV protection assessment |
| Boots Opticians | Included, from £29.95 | Boots includes its Dry Eye Evaluation in the Essential Eye Test, for adults |
| Independent dry eye specialist | Set by the clinic | No national rate published; ask for the fee when you book |
| Private hospital eye clinic | Set by the clinic | Consultant-led; ask for the fee when you book |
| NHS hospital eye service | Free (severe cases, referral needed) | Conservative assessment, basic treatment |
Cost of dry eye treatments after the assessment
| Treatment | Cost | For whom |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial tears (Hycosan, Systane, Optase) | £8 to £15 per bottle | Mild symptoms, occasional use |
| Preservative-free unit doses | £12 to £20 per box | Sensitive eyes, frequent use |
| Lid hygiene products (Blephaclean, Blephasol) | £10 to £15 per pack | Blepharitis, meibomian dysfunction |
| Warm compress mask (heated) | £20 to £45 | Meibomian gland dysfunction at home |
| Omega-3 supplements | £10 to £25 per month | Adjunctive for moderate dry eye |
| IPL (intense pulsed light) course | £400 to £1,500 | Moderate to severe meibomian gland dysfunction |
| LipiFlow thermal pulsation | £800 to £1,500 per treatment | Severe meibomian gland dysfunction |
| Punctal plugs (per eye) | £100 to £300 | Aqueous-deficient dry eye |
| Ciclosporin drops (prescription) | NHS prescription charge or private cost | Inflammatory dry eye |
Treatment costs are indicative private prices in the UK as of May 2026. Specific treatment plans should be discussed with a qualified optometrist or ophthalmologist. The information above is not a clinical recommendation.
Common questions
How much does a dry eye assessment cost in the UK?
Vision Express includes a dry eye assessment in its £30 Advanced Eye Test, alongside an OCT 3D scan and a UV protection assessment. Boots includes its Dry Eye Evaluation in the Essential Eye Test, published from £29.95, for adults. Specsavers and Asda publish no price for a dry eye assessment, and specialist optometry clinics set their own fees, so ask when you book. The College of Optometrists Clinical Management Guideline on dry eye recommends a structured assessment including symptom score, tear meniscus height, tear break-up time, Schirmer test, and meibomian gland evaluation. Basic dry eye screening is sometimes included in a standard sight test if you mention symptoms.
Is a dry eye assessment free on the NHS?
Not as a standalone service in most parts of England. Some NHS shared-care optometry schemes in Wales, Scotland, and certain English regions fund dry eye assessment for specific patients. Hospital eye services see severe or sight-threatening dry eye cases by GP or optometrist referral. Most people pay privately for the dedicated assessment.
What tests are involved in a dry eye assessment?
A structured dry eye assessment typically includes a validated symptom score (such as OSDI), tear meniscus height measurement, tear film break-up time (TBUT) with fluorescein, Schirmer test for tear production, meibomian gland expression and assessment, and sometimes meibography (infrared imaging of the meibomian glands). The whole assessment takes around 30 to 45 minutes.
Which UK chains offer a dry eye assessment?
Two of the big four publish a dry eye check as part of their standard private test: Vision Express includes a dry eye assessment in its £30 Advanced Eye Test, and Boots includes its Dry Eye Evaluation in the Essential Eye Test, published from £29.95, for adults. Specsavers and Asda publish no dry eye price. Independent dry eye specialist clinics (often optometry practices with a focus on ocular surface disease) set their own fees; ask when you book.
What treatments follow a dry eye assessment?
Treatment depends on findings: artificial tears for mild cases, lid hygiene routines, omega-3 supplementation, warm compresses for meibomian gland dysfunction, intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy or LipiFlow for severe meibomian dysfunction, prescription drops (such as ciclosporin) for inflammatory dry eye. Most treatments are not NHS-funded for routine dry eye; some IPL and LipiFlow procedures cost £400 to £1,500 per course.
Can I just buy artificial tears without an assessment?
Yes for mild symptoms. Over-the-counter artificial tear products (Hycosan, Systane, Hydromoor, Optase, Thealoz Duo) cost around £8 to £15 and are appropriate for occasional or mild dry eye. For persistent symptoms (more than a few weeks), recurrent symptoms, or symptoms that interfere with reading or screen work, the structured assessment identifies the underlying cause and points to more targeted treatment.
Sources
Related guides
Contact lens check
Dry eye often coexists with contact lens intolerance.
OCT scan cost
Anterior segment OCT can image the tear meniscus.
Specsavers price guide
Dry eye clinic at selected stores.
Vision Express price guide
Dry eye assessment at selected stores.
What to expect at an eye test
Mention dry eye symptoms at booking.
NHS vs private
Dry eye assessment usually requires private route.